Signaling pathway may explain how transition from milk to solid food shapes immune system development
Researchers at LMU Munich have identified a signaling pathway in mice that links the transition from breastfeeding to solid food with immune system development. The study shows how dietary shifts trigger dendritic cells in the spleen to regulate immune responses.
Why it matters
Understanding this mechanism could provide insights into preventing allergies and autoimmune diseases by optimizing immune system development during early life.
by Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Model of the diet-driven regulatory circuit. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75853-5 The early period of life is a critical phase in which the immune system must learn to tolerate harmless environmental stimuli, such as food and microbes that normally live in and on the body, while remaining vigilant against harmful substances and pathogens. If it fails to strike the right balance, the individual may become more susceptible later in life to allergies and autoimmune diseases. During this sensitive window, the transition from breastfeeding to solid food represents a crucial shift, including in its effects on the immune system.
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